In 2014, Japan upgraded its relationship with India to a “Special Strategic and Global Partnership.” Japan now ranks its relationship with India—alongside Australia—as second only to that with the US, the only country with which it has a formal alliance. At the same time, the relationship between Japan and India in terms of their economic relations and the interaction and movement of people between the two countries does not bear comparison with Japan’s respective relationships with the US and Australia. Japan also has far more interaction with China, South Korea, and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) nations in terms of the flow of commodities, people, and money. While Japan’s relationship with India may come under an impressive title, it is in fact only just beginning to take shape.
This article provides an overview of how the relationship between Japan and India has developed over the years—from a long period in which the two countries, despite having some affinity with each other, remained estranged, to the more recent shift toward working to enhance a strategic relationship. We will build on this to discuss the current developments and challenges in Japan-India relations.
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